finally, Static Shock.

[@wonder_platypus8337]

I grew up in a fairly racist house and I honestly think watching Statoc Shock helped me break out of those views before they were deeply rooted enough to stick. I loved this show.

[@kingjoeblack5]

Like… how racist we talking?

[@lifeisadrag7705]

@@kingjoeblack5 Does it matter...?

[@kingjoeblack5]

@@lifeisadrag7705 nothing matters. But it is interesting…

[@randallflagg3700]

@@kingjoeblack5 - Fairly, aka "to a moderately high degree." So, probably not _KKK_ or _5 Percenters Muslims_ level racist, but somewhere in the middle.

[@laserbeamlightning]

@@kingjoeblack5commenting cause I’m curious too

[@SAWhowhatnow]

i love the passion in Phil's voice when he talked about how quality in cartooning meant nothing. the man obviously loves his work and believes in it as art

[@randallflagg3700]

Gotta love the Pulp Fiction poster right behind his head

[@16ktsgamma]

Samurai Jack anyone.

[@laserbeamlightning]

THAT’S WHY HE’S THE GOAT THE GOOOOOAAAATTTT

[@47shadows76]

Capitalism always wins

[@47shadows76]

​@@laserbeamlightning That's what I'm talking about

[@hellishhybrid1839]

The old DC cartoons of the 90s and 00s were surprisingly deep, mature, intelligent shows that rarely talked down to their audience and treated topics seriously in a nuanced way.

[@hcook1023]

I actually watched Batman the Animated Series on the dorm lobby TV years ago, we ended up with a crowd of 20 guys watching We actually started up Justice League and that scene where Aquaman cuts off his and was badass

[@BaithNa]

The good times, before DC media was aimed at either babies or edge lord teenagers.

[@triggatrey2112]

@@hcook1023you guys should start a reaction channel, sound like you got a cool group

[@puterboy2]

Now we have Arcane to take the place of that legacy.

[@joshuajackson5203]

@@puterboy2 Arcane? You mean the league of legends show? Pffffft you must be young, nah bro, don't get me wrong it's pretty good i like it...but but it ain't THAT good lol.

[@BrokenNooby64]

Shoutout to the Batman Beyond crossover episode lol.

[@Future_Vantas]

"He says his name's Beyonce"

[@TheVeritas1]

@@Future_Vantas I was ROFL when Batman (McGinnis) took Static's joke literally.

[@Future_Vantas]

@@TheVeritas1 There's also a more somber note when Static asks about Robin. Sucks considering how well Virgil and Tim got along in the first crossover.

[@matheus5230]

This show is HUGE here in Brazil. Perhaps the most popular DCAU show of them all, honestly. A staple of the childhoods of many kids in the 2000s in the TV program Bom Dia & Cia.

[@selfimprovement5873]

In Brazil? Fascinating.

[@MadameTamma]

I read that Static creator Dwayne McDuffie was invited to a comic convention in Brazil a few years back. When he arrived, he saw more cosplayers of Static than anyone else. Tickets were sold out to hear him talk about his creation. He was so shocked and overwhelmed to find out how huge the fan base was for his work he broke down and cried.

[@Jorgelhus]

Our mixed race pool, the rampant violence, the fact that the cartoon wasn't afraid to show middle class and lower class and the amazing team of dubbers for this show are all factors for it's success

[@iamwaffles965]

​@MadameTamma, that's pretty amazing. I've never heard that story before

[@JohnSmith-io3ii]

Hearing about great shows like Static and I think Teen Titans getting canceled originally because of the lack of toy sales really make me angry. I remember being a kid back then and I looked for Static toys and never saw them in the store to buy. If they even made toys for some of the shows back then they weren't readily available for purchase. Honestly I don't even remember commercials for Static toys.

[@jay15951]

Right like half of these shows that grt canceled for lack of toy sales I'm always like who fucked up, this show has massive potential for toys.

[@speake7777777]

There was actually a video game that got scrapped before release. Beta versions of the ROM used to exist online

[@MadameTamma]

The reason for their cancellation is a lot dumber than just toy sales if you believe what Paul Dini had to say about it in that IGN article that came out a few years ago. According to what he said in the article, a lot of Superhero cartoons get cancelled too early often when the studios run analytics and discover that the ratio between boy viewers and girl viewers swings more in the direction of a girl fan base. They want girls to watch their shows, but only if there's MORE boys than girls in the audience. This is because toys made for boys (think action figures), and toys made for girls (things like Plushies) are different, so if they're banking on having a more boys audience then the marketing team will focus on making more boys toys from the get go. If it's discovered that there are more girls who like it, then they would feel like they'd have to scrap their current toy line and marketing all together and do a shift towards girls, and don't think it's worth the trouble to do so. Also shows made for girls come with a stigma, and there are some writers that don't want that. So they'd rather not continue at all rather than have to make what would then be marketed as a "girls show", even if the shows themselves come across as pretty gender neutral.

[@BaithNa]

You're thinking of Young Justice. Teen Titans had like 5 seasons and the toys sales were so good it got a spin off that has lasted 15+ years now.

[@ChartreuseDan]

Taken in context we can assume it wasn't that children and parents weren't buying static shock merchandise, it was just that manufacturers and toy stores weren't. Boardrooms full of aging, [brightest shade on the gradient] yuppie leftovers still in the throes of [not pepsi] withdrawal ruining everything for everyone; very much still the theme at the turn of the millennium (hopefully this version will get past google-bot's delicate sensibilities)

[@tylerbertram7065]

Static Shock is such a cool and underrated show. I love the way it tackled issues such as racism, religion, classism, gang violence, school shootings, and so on without coming across as preachy or talking down to the audience like they are stupid, it such of an one of a kind show that we don't see much anymore.

[@5lim.0]

The fact this show opened up with the teen hero being handed a 🔫 is crazy

[@DarthNinja65]

@@5lim.0 It's crazier in the original comic. Virgil actually tries to shoot Francis/Hotstreak but couldn't go through with it.

[@MerlinTheCommenter]

It was pretty based. Couldn’t believed they did it.

[@justinrodriguez5957]

I think the reason one may find this show refreshing now is that while it does contain a little bit of naivete due to being a kids show it contains a very real lesson about always lending a hand to help others regardless of belief. An original character that preaches and embodies the neccesity of community in a world where the most vocal and the media is insistent on people placing themselves in silos when in truth that is the last thing most want in this world.

[@Grizabeebles]

In some ways it feels like the Arrowverse in general (but especially Flash and Black Lightning) were pushing back against the optimism of Static Shock decades later. The idea of Virgil's mom recieving a direct warning the night she dies and then going out anyway *because its the right thing to do* seems to only come up as a tragic flaw rather than a high ideal.

[@leithaziz2716]

I think the lesson we struggle the most to believe in is that there's worth in ideals and integrity. The world doesn't have to reward you for your kindness (nowadays, people might even demean you or call you stupid), but you are not wrong to stick to how you value life. I think this is why characters like Superman and Batman have kept their appeal for so long. A story might not be realistic, but maybe there's still wisdom to be found in it if you perceive it as an ideal of how things should be. Technically none of this is real, but it leaves an impact, and that's gotta count for something.

[@TheVeritas1]

What an excellent comment. Static Shock is a great antidote to all the forces in media that create division for nefarious ends.

[@Nightman221k]

The episode where Virgil met his mom in the past always breaks my heart.

[@LittleHobbit13]

That one and the Homelessness one get me. "When you're homeless, people look right through you; it's like you're not even there" has stuck with me to this day, and certainly as I've gotten older and had more experiences with loss and grief, Virgil's fear about losing his memories of his mother definitely hit harder.

[@Nightman221k]

@ agreed. The series was easily the most heartfelt ad personal of the DCAU. Virgil and Richie felt like such authentic kids.

[@ShinOrashi]

The praise that ATLA gets, the DCAU also deserves! Batman the Animated Series, JLU, and Static Shock were special. . .

[@michel0dy]

Being black and brazillian, a lot of superheroes felt like... well... cartoon characters. They were cool but that was it, they were dettached from reality. But even as a kid, Static Shock resonated so much with me and my friends, it felt so real to the world surrounding us. We too had to grow up learning about racial and class discrimination, and it felt like Virgil, Richie, and many other characters could have been any of us.

[@ericevanson7162]

Man I got the chance to meet Phil LaMarr a couple months ago and I definitely should’ve talked to him more about how amazing this show was

[@Phantomwolf10]

I understand perfectly. I met him a couple years ago I was able to tell him how he made John Stewart my favorite green lantern. He has a lot of fans I didn't want to take up too much of his time

[@DAVEREVIEWS-MOVIES]

A good show with a really great character

[@WaallyOne]

STATIC SHOCK BABY! The part with Virgil's mom actually brought a tear to my eye. I actually like the 4th season, since I was around static's age when it was released and I got angry too, it's easy to see it as a betrayal of the "happy" theme but it's an evolution of a kid growing up, especially a black kid

[@milkiassamuel780]

Such a great show. Even though I sadly never grew up with the show as a kid, I got to watch it, and I LOVED IT Virgil is such a great, lovable character that inspired a whole generation, and as a member of the black community, Static Shock really felt like it was a show made with passion and genuine understanding of struggles but still knew how to engage with kids, teens and adults so well and Virgil is a character I felt like I could relate to. Sure, the show can often get preachy, but they still tell important, valid and good messages that should be heard and never forgotten. Im happy this series gave people a look into the Milestone comics universe that would become a part of the DC Universe. Thank you, Mr. Dwayne McDuffie, for allowing a show this great to be made and beloved to this day. Rest in Peace, Legend!

[@kb6900]

The miles morales before miles morales

[@Firebreakerhayes6904]

He was doing his own thing

[@hcook1023]

​@@Firebreakerhayes6904 Exactly Static Shock was popular in his own right, most kids didn't even know it was in the same universe as the rest of the DC shows

[@Firebreakerhayes6904]

@@hcook1023 yeah I know that I was taking about the whole static was miles before miles topics thing been going on in the fandom. Static was his own hero not a legacy hero of a fully already been active for years

[@hcook1023]

@@Firebreakerhayes6904 sorry I was agreeing Also the Ultimate Spiderman had a real send off almost to Death of Superman levels

[@BaithNa]

Miles is partially based on Static, that's why he randomly has electric powers.

[@Kennyselman]

I mean, early 2000's, we lost Megas XLR for the same reason...and that was America's answer to Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (which yes, must be said as its full title, thank you) a mecha show about mecha shows. Any toys? No. Reason it was canceled? No merch, because none was ever made. And seriously, it was set in Jersey City, WTF, people WANT that place be be destroyed, a shirt that says "0 days since Jersey City attacked by giant monster" held by as a sign by Megas? Instant buy. Static shock has like, 2 toys lines, and they were rarely on sale, and never sold in Walmart (which hated em because Black People) sol no sales there too.

[@TheBigYC]

Megas was hilarious.

[@Zetaforce-uv8el]

What is sad is that its spiritual successor Motorcity was cancelled after one season.

[@MauZangetsu]

I'd say we lost A LOT of action shows because of that stupid reason, all through the 2000's and even at the start of the next decade. Megas was canceled, a few years go by and we get the AWESOME Sym-Bionic Titan. And what happened? No toyline, so no new season. And both of those shows got TONS of content for at least 3 whole toylines. Sorry about the rant, I'm still pissed about both of those cancellations. Fucking suits, man

[@Mezzo-k1y]

How can you not make a toy out of a giant robot with flames on it and a car for a head?

[@HappyAxolotl24]

I dont know why, but your little into and music gives me goosebumps. It's like im feeling nostalgic for something i never experienced

[@BaithNa]

Never forget that Dwayne Mcduffie was the GOAT and Bruce Timm never produced a single good product since he passed away.

[@Draqua]

I love Phil LaMarr's Pulp Fiction poster, positioned just over... head

[@Intr0vertical]

Today i learned you were asian. Lol i always just assumed you were a white british guy

[@rainbowsomeone]

I suspected but I think this is the most obvious confirmation lol

[@lifeisadrag7705]

Okay so it's not just me lmao- no disrespect or anything

[@Firebreakerhayes6904]

Wait he's British 😱

[@ZelphTheWebmancer]

He beat the Bri'ish allegations

[@suyinege8529]

when did he mention that

[@Edoric85]

I wish they had Static and Gear join the Justice League in the show. (Yeah, I know Static joins later, but we never get to see that).

[@JFatzDaKeyz]

Well canonically he joins as an adult, and the show wouldn't have had the same appeal if he was an adult the entire time. Him learning how to be a hero as a teen and balancing his life is the biggest selling point

[@hcook1023]

I think the reconned characters to make them adults during that time because even Supergirl and StarGirl were 20ish not 15

[@dontmatter966]

Static was such a great show. As a kid I didn't think too much of the lessons, but the episode with the gun PSA hit me hard. It wasnt static heavy at all, and the PSA was done with extreme taste As an adult i can say static is an oddity and a unicorn in the world of superhero cartoons

[@travit666]

7:13 his name is anansi the spider. An African trickster god

[@jacobsunday6561]

Waking up every Saturday morning to Kids WB with Lil Romeo implanted in my eardrums was a time to be alive for some reason 😂

[@ZombieCrazyLegs]

All these years later and i would be hard pressed to give another example of a show that tackled social issues as well let alone better.

[@FFmaxxx]

Sooo a couple things - it's so interesting how the mom stuff turned out. When i was a kid in the early 2000s ,dwayne mcduffie was online alot. I got his aim name and i used to message him after school online while i was drawing. He was super accessible and open. He regretted killing the mom off, since she was alive in the comics. I also think he regretted it because of the stereotype of single parent black families. But as a kid that was shocking to me to hear but as an adult..i totally get why he felt that way now. - its funny how much of a positive light static and Virgil was in people's lives in the cartoon, in the comics he wasnt as positive. They always dealt with hard issues but that's not always how Virgil dealt with them. In the comics Richie was gay and static at first couldn't understand. Him and his friends were throwing gay slurs, he didn't realize how much that just Richie and grew to change his ways. That comic came out in like 96/97... very much something that can still be of value today.

[@logicaloverdrive8197]

5:15 I hate this shit so much because that's got a lot of those classic 2000s bangers canceled. Still thinking of you, Sym-Bionic Titan.

[@Forsoothious]

They canceled all their good shit for renewing their not so good shit. Looking at you, Big Mouth that has 7 seasons.

[@Rockmanbalboa]

Here in Brazil, the show is very loved, and achieved something that Dwayne McDuffie wanted, for the character to be loved despite where you're from or the color of your skin, i remember static being talked about by people in my class, he was quite big, i believe also because the societal situations showed on the show, were lived by most of us Brazilians, and the character expressed a lot of things i believe teenager's were passing through, and he had a lot of reruns together with jl, jlu, teen titans, og ben10 and much more.

[@adiksaff]

WOOOOOH! This show deserves more eyes! For me, that first episode, the episode with Permafrost, and the episode about Richie's dad's racism still stick with me to this day! This show has made me a better human being.

[@captainoftheneverdie21]

Everyday makes me miss McDuffie more and more. Static Shock was just... chief's kiss

[@persona-fister3212]

I have been waiting for this video for some time my goat 🐐 🙌 😤

[@PerfectDarkly]

In hindsight especially, such a tragedy and an insult how many great cartoons from the 90s and 2000s had their early cancellations dictated almost entirely by toy companies. When Toys R Us, possibly _the_ largest toy seller in history, eventually ended up going bankrupt anyway, it's just like "What did all of these amazing serial media even die for then?"

[@Im2lazy4thisCrit]

Especially sad in hindsight since it feels like Toys aren’t even popular anymore, it’s moreso video games or movies.

[@Sterling921]

I like the last words of the show. It really shows him as a character and how loved he is. He will definitely be a mark on history. He’s a staple for many young people and I will be exposing the next generation to him. I know he’s gonna get a reboot and I just hope that it’s gonna be a true testament to his character. I’d be shocked if it wasn’t 🫶🏿⚡️

[@mechajay3358]

Static Shock is just a such a good show. It's a series that knew what it wanted to be and did so well.

[@skits_3d824]

STATIC WAS THE HERO WE ALL NEEDED. I loved this show as a kid. Showing how much heart he had and who you could relate to as kids and teens. I loved how flexible he could connect to. Batman, Robin, Superman, the justice league, heck even Terry from batman beyond. It was a show that dove into helping the hurt and lost as much as taking down the bad guys. ❤ ⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡❤

[@mrtoast3319]

I hate that Static never got its chance. It could have been DC's Spiderman couterpart.

[@ryancreecy9105]

31 years old here I watched this show as a kid it was GREAT I rewatched it this year and still was perfect!

[@corbindixon5519]

90s kid here, we had shows that organically approached modern contemporary issues without being overly preachy. They taught the lesson then moved on. You learned from the episode because you weren't forced, coerced, or shamed into. The shows back then illustrated meaningful points of morality through an honest and sincere approach. Not as a weekly grift or product placement for "fill in the blank" organization/groups that at end of the day dont truly care about the cause they rep. At the end of the day it was about unity. There was a real sense of community in each of these shows. Everything felt honest and genuine

[@208getalife]

I always kind of preferred in the comics how he DID agree to the gang war, because he was pressured into believing it was the only way to get revenge on the guy who beat him up, as a result of Vergil doing something decent (giving his friend Frieda support so that she could turn down a guy who didn't respect her). And it was after a pretty systemic history of being bullied and harassed, so on some level it was about getting his respect and cred, so that him and his friends wouldn't be messed with any more. Not on the same level as Uncle Ben, but I think heroes need these "Uncle Ben Moments" where they realize that their actions have consequences, and they need to be able to be better in order to be heroes. For Vergil, that was realizing that was putting himself in that position by allowing the ever-present factors in urban Afro culture, especially systemic ones that targeted him for being smart and nerdy while also being black, and the ones that society puts on young black men to be a certain way. I think it was extremely important that Vergil both be a good kid, but also not be totally immune to the factors of society that he had to rebuke in order to become the hero we love.

[@kateorgera5907]

I mean, he DID go to the docks in the show too. I know he was more pressured into it in the show, but that almost makes the stakes higher, because he'd be facing issues from both FStop AND Wade for disagreeing. But once he gets handed that gun, that's sort of his "Uncle Ben" moment - the gun makes his deal with Wade all a little too real, because while comics!Virgil's mom is alive, cartoon!Virgil's mom died because of gang violence. If Virgil hadn't decided the protection wasn't worth it and started to leave, he would have been right in the middle of the explosion and might have had a much more physical or hard-to-manage mutation (or died! Didn't a bunch of the big bang victims die in the comics?) instead of what he got. And if it hadn't been for the Big Bang, Virgil definitely would have faced the consequences for his disloyalty to Wade.

[@victoriavvc]

Static Shock, Jackie Chan Adventures, Jake Long American Dragon, and Kim Possible were all my super hero shows of choice. Static Shock was the only super hero that I watched because the story was compelling and I loved his powers and the way he used them.

[@mr101aaa]

Static Shock is formative TV for me, always happy to see a Static Shock video online

[@TheVeritas1]

THANK YOU for shining the light on Static Shock, a really great and underrated show. I checked it out because I enjoyed the original Static comics. Thanks to Dwayne McDuffie working on the show, it perfectly captured the spirit of its source material. Static Shock deals with very real and heavy topics, but maintains Virgil Hawkins' compassion, hope, and genuine heroism. Static Shock proves the old saying "They don't make them like this anymore."

[@AndreNitroX]

I can’t describe the effect this show had on me as a kid, it was awesome action but also made me feel enlightened

[@combatbrony6705]

I found your channel by accident but after hearing this amazing video on my personal favorite show as a child and being one of the few who really understand it i really appriciate bud deffiently hitting that subscribe button thanks

[@onyxeyes3561]

So glad to finally get a static video!

[@ktz009]

Overdue for a live action movie

[@hcook1023]

I don't think they would be able to pull it off today

[@RavenCloak13]

Maybe back then. Not now. Reminder that their was this old KZbin video of "Live-action Disney Channel Stars Static Shock" with over a million views that wanted the dudes in High School Musical to play Vergil and Richie. You don't even need me to tell you who specifically and yeah, it would have worked.

[@jellocat9244]

I love static shock! We need more of it!

[@stateofhibernation]

The DCAU was peak back then. Loved seeing all my favorite cartoons crossing over with eachother ❤

[@Infinitay]

Static Show was one of my favorite shows growing up and I was so disappointed when it ended so early.

[@dazzlethestar151]

Such an amaxing show, deserves more appreciation.

[@calsh14]

This show is fantastic and im so glad its getting the love it deserves. Also, fun fact: Richie was gay the entire show. Dwayne got it past the sensors and if you arent paying attention, youll miss the subtle details he made to show that

[@fobbles_]

Resilience is not found in individualism, but manifested through community. Holy shit that is… an amazing truth

[@mast3rharo]

Damn I love Static. I'm a big fan of Spider-Man and Superman too. It's okay for people to be Good People. We need Good People.

[@vzerby]

A massively underappreciated show that I'm always glad to get attention in any form. As you had said there was unlocked memories from a parallel universe of yourself I felt I had that sort of revelation akin to that feeling as you broke down each seasons focus. This really made me want to want it all over again.

[@Thejoeymireles]

Had me crying in the club just now. Such a good character and a great video.

[@anotheryoutubechannel4157]

Your narration style is so calming... This is great content

[@1496blake]

As a Hispanic, static has and will always be my favorite black superhero.

[@jordanloux3883]

Back when you could make a show that talked about racism, classism, and more without being called 'woke'

[@Kcitz_]

Because they didn’t bake it into a character they made it into the story

[@jordanloux3883]

@@Kcitz_ What does that even mean?

[@TheOriginalKaudecus]

They weren’t hood rich recidivists masquerading as sophists

[@jordanloux3883]

@@TheOriginalKaudecus English?

[@TheHeadNinjainComics]

You mean before 'woke' was seen as a bad thing? Because it was definitely woke. Which is a good thing.

[@Lowkeylie]

Static was in a class of its own man. It tackled some heavy stuff, but it never felt like it was preaching at us or talking down to us. Sure there are a couple areas where the execution could have been better here and there, but overall it put us in situations with characters where it made sense that they would go through these struggles and just let them… exist in them man. React to them. They made them feel like real, fleshed out people. And that made the unjust things done to them feel personal. It took issues that felt big and hard to grasp and made them feel very personal. God I miss this show.

[@unitedstatesofamericareal]

this might be one of my favourite videos of yours...

[@Jaredvaneducation]

So good. This is the first video I’ve watched from you, and I’ve always held a special place in my heart for static. You did an incredible and inspiring take. Thank you.

[@nokiahmotorz01]

I loved Static as a kid. He was my favourite superhero back then and it meant so much to me when he showed up in Young Justice, even if his backstory there is different. I really hope he shows up more in media, he’s so underutilised

[@MadameTamma]

Static has one of my favorite superhero origins. He is given the option to join a gang, receive protection and possible revenge from his bully and almost takes it, but once confronted with what he would have to do, his upbringing kicks in. He was raised by a family that puts a lot of emphasis on helping the community but also knowing full well the dangerous of their environment, like the gangs they share their streets with. So he goes into mature, responsible mode and that leads to a string of correct decisions. (What to do with the gun, where he should go, how to get out of there, etc.) and that informs how he handles dangerous situations as a superhero going forward. Making sure people in need get to where they need to be. He's a kind hearted kid with streets smarts.

[@kingdragoonmk10]

Its Shows like Static shock that showed me a Ideal that Humbles me as I see myself fall short of its virtue, and yet makes me want to be better, that even if I can't reach their level, I can atleast work to be a better version of myself in relation to that ideal... I sorely miss such good natured and optimistic shows , in a world so seemingly consumed by Nihilism and Grey's ... But I still see a precious few still trying to be that light in the dark.

[@queenbean3760]

This show was my favorite! So glad you hear your thoughts on it.

[@Comicbroe405]

I bet this would be called "woke" if it came out today 🤔

[@omoefeasiemo3601]

Yes exactly

[@TheNekoGentleman]

I guarantee you that if the episode on homelessness was redone today in ANY other superhero show, even an adult or a live action one, with minimal changes, the grifters would be screaming about it for weeks. And don't get me started about the one with guns. And yet, they are genuinely some of the best examinations of both issues in the medium.

[@nicholassgobero]

I've come to realize that when people call things woke it tells more about who they are rather than about the thing they called woke

[@DamianQualshy]

@@Comicbroe405 if it would've been written 1:1 as back then, no it wouldn't

[@JaeTheGent]

it wouldn't be made today

[@Eisner2203]

Static shock is such a damn good show. Rewatched the whole series recently. At age 29 this show hit so damn hard still.

[@CoffeeBrainzz]

Man… all these WB shows were such a GEM of their time 💎 -Brilliant animation (for the time, that classic batman Superman animation) -Super Kool Characters (HeroesAndVillains) -PEAK storytelling -Genuine morals and life lessons learned Maybe I just lost that child magic of enjoying things at face value, but everything seems so shallow with blatant propaganda blasted straight into your face. Nothings subtle or hinted at anymore and the story always takes last priority over the propaganda message. Can’t even get a decent character without them changing motivations from scene to scene these days 😮‍💨

[@kateorgera5907]

@10:44 "What Static Shock teaches us is that resilience is not found in individualism, but manifested through community." Eh, I'm gonna push back on that a bit. Not to say that resilience isn't manifested through community for Virgil/Static, as you've set up some excellent arguments on how Virgil's family and community provide great support and examples for his own behavior, and that what the Bang Babies need most is often that kind of compassion and support, but I am not of the mind that individualism and collectivism need be mutually exclusive. Look at the reveal episode vs the series finale - while Mr. Hawkins recognizes Virgil and Richie deserve to decide how to use their powers for themselves, a scientist decides that the best thing for the collective good of the city means taking all meta humans away, making the cure airborne . Even Static and Gear, who have done so much good, have the decision to keep using their powers responsibly taken out of their hands (which is especially concerning when thinking about Future Shock and knowing they're meant to be heroes at least into middle age!), but they don't say much against it because that would be selfish. But I sort of wish others in Dakota had stuck up for them instead of them getting their powers back because of Ebon and Hot Streak. While it's amazing that a cure is finally made available and that villains like Ebon and Hot Streak can be contained, I do feel like that episode is a good argument for why individual and collective good need to be balanced. As you say in Discussion 2, a lot of the show focuses on individuals within larger frameworks, but the individuals are still important. How many times do Bang Babies fall into bad groups like the Meta-Breed because their need to belong somewhere is manipulated? That's collectivism to a negative extreme, manifesting in a high control group. While it generally takes a support system to turn away from groups like that, it also takes a lot of individual will, a willingness to break from the crowd and risk rejection to find a better dynamic for oneself and follow one's values over the group's. True individualism to me at least does not equate to selfishness. While Virgil's values are drawn from his community, every time Virgil sees a Bang Baby for WHO they are over WHAT they are, reaching out to outcasts in spite of what they may have done, that's individualism.

[@omoefeasiemo3601]

I wish there was a static movie

[@bignate5368]

There was a movie in the works back in 2020. Michael B Jordan was gonna produce it but if you keep up with anything DC you know a lot of changes happend over there and now who knows if a movie is still in the plans 😢

[@blackrippin]

Having an actual show about Ghanaian super hero blew my mind as a kid. I remember running to grab my parents to make them watch it with. Static will always be one of my favorite DC heros.

[@Jago-Shogun]

I actually miss when superheroes hated something bad, like how Batman, Spiderman and Shock (respectively inspired by the bat) hate guns because of the damage they did to them *personally* , not just heroes having "weaknesses" or what have you. It made them relateable, traumatized, vulnerable, but not weak. It's turned to a motivation, in a way. It's such a simple writing tool.

[@fobbles_]

I saw a video essay of “The Boy Scout” archetype and how a lot of people think it’s flat, but the author of the video said it’s the constant overcoming of wrong that’s the super power. I think it’s a little deeper. I think it’s simply altruism itself is enchanting. And showing how easy and hard it can be for each person is eye opening. Just like Static Shock

[@DGL-LDG]

I would always have my usernames starting with either Staticdragon or Darkshock. It was a way to honor my favourite hero who was the most relatable character for POCs growing up in the 2000s.

[@RextheRebel]

The time travel episode where Virgil meets his mom made me cry again. After all these years, I still cry to this episode. This and the homeless girl episode. God it hurts.

[@jasonbritnell42]

This show was dope AF.. and the episode an aged Static Shock appears in Batman Beyond will always live rent free in my mind

[@RediscoveringDavid]

I LOVED Static Shock! Any superhero with electric powers is on my team.

[@guga5708156]

Static Shock is AMAZING, loved watching it while growing up

[@sharkguy6427]

i could never quite explain why i loved this show so much as a kid, but this articulates it so well

[@FLAMEandICE_]

A trend that will never get old to me is when u have time travel episodes like this and the main character gets to see someone that haven't seen in a long time due to their heroic demise, but even when telling them what happened, they still choose to go out a hero not for the glory but because its the right thing to do which helps the main character in more ways in one

[@remyheart27]

Loved that show as a kid. Feel I took it for granted

[@MrGoobermania]

This show was incredible. A revival of this show would worry me but I never want this show to be forgotten.

[@speake7777777]

This was one of my favorite shows when it originally aired. One of the things that always stood out to me was that the hero was written as a person first, and a superhero second. He is not a flat archetype like that Batman, or the Teen Titans. Virgil has its own hopes and dreams, and they are different from the goals that Static pursues he was one of the only superheroes I can think of from that era that actually managed a work life balance, and that might make him the most powerful one.

[@diegodreossi1458]

A true classic!

[@rosegirl3220]

The Christmas episode made me cry so much when I was a kid

[@bgjazz55]

Loved this! Static Shock was an incredible show that i will always appreciate!

[@ladybuzzkillington2072]

Static Shock was my jam as a kid. I thought he was the coolest. Looking forward to you're take

[@ZeroOmega-vg8nq]

i miss static. such a good kid in vergil that we all deserve to have as a friend. people from all walks of life LOVED static not because of his skin but because he was a hero

[@CaptainCJ97]

Im shocked this never got a video game. I remember as a kid i really enjoyed it amother thing I like about the show The static's designs outfit especially his last one is really good plus the enemies is too

[@bigwxrm1738]

This video is really well done 💯

[@raviamodernepic]

Good ol' KidsWB mornings ❤

[@anotherdarkjedi2094]

I loved watching this show. For a long time it was Saturday morning cartoons. It had no right to be as deep and awesome as it was. The crossovers were a nice touch to

[@kap1618]

Dwayne Mcduffie was a man who cared a lot about representation. He was vocal about it, and it was present in this show. And he were alive today, the anti woke crowd would hate him.

[@TommyLupkey]

Thank you for making a Static Shock video!

[@DaniG._.German]

Even though Static was canceled, the ending made sense. 99% of the Bang Babies lost their powers. The last Bang Babies standing were Virgil, Ritchie and that Abomination (Hotstreak & Ebon). If there was a season 5, the criminals would be normal, possibly equipped with futuristic weapons (maybe Intergang), and the Abomination plotting against Static and Gear every now & then. Season 4 was a perfect conclusion. However, I wish we got to see Static(Virgil of the present) in the JLU. We got that cowboy, the knight, and that guy who piloted a mecha, whose names I can't remember. Even the Creeper was a JLU member. Static should've been in the JLU.

[@cla_bla]

Day-um! I was literally thinking of starting this show as YT popped open!

[@InvasionAnimation]

Great video!

[@jackieec]

I just watched it after so long of not seeing it as a kid. And I loved it so much. ❤